Inclined skylit light well

Abstract

A roof mounted light well oriented to maximize the collection and transport efficiency of solar radiation through an aperture into a building. The device includes a structure having side walls and an upper surface. A light well is located within said structure, and may be partially comprised of said structure. The light well defines a light passageway. The light well is oriented to maximize pass-through of average annualized solar light through said light well. In one embodiment, the light well extends below the roof of the building to a ceiling structure within the building. In some instances, one or both of an upper surface and a lower surface of the light well is horizontal. A reflective element may be provided that projects upwards from the structure. The reflective element may be retractable.

1 . A roof mounted device for maximizing the admittance of solar radiation through an aperture into a building, said device comprising:
 a structure having side walls and an upper surface;   a light well within said structure said light well defining a light passageway;   wherein said light well is oriented to maximize pass-through of average annualized solar light through said light well.   
   
   
       2 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said light well extends below the roof of the building to a ceiling structure within the building.   
   
   
       3 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said light well is offset from vertical.   
   
   
       4 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 one of said upper surface and a lower surface of said light well is horizontal.   
   
   
       5 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a reflective element projecting upwards from said structure.   
   
   
       6 . The building mounted device according to  claim 5  wherein:
 said reflective element is retractable.   
   
   
       7 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 an outer surface of said structure protruding above the roof defines a curb.   
   
   
       8 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 an outer surface of said light well protruding above the roof defines a curb.   
   
   
       9 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said light well is rotatable.   
   
   
       10 . The building mounted device according to  claim 9  wherein:
 said light well rotates to a predetermined orientation correlated to a time of year.   
   
   
       11 . The building mounted device according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said light well has a cross-sectional shape selected from a group consisting of round, square, rectangular and octagonal.   
   
   
       12 . A method of maximizing the admittance of solar radiation through an aperture into a building comprising the steps of:
 locating a roof aperture in a roof of a building;   positioning a light well to extend above and below said roof aperture, said light well defining a passageway that passes through said aperture, said light well having a solar collection aperture at a first end and an exit aperture at a second end, said light well defining a longitudinal axis;   orienting said longitudinal axis of said light well at an angle that substantially maximizes pass-through of average annualized solar light through said light well passageway.